Coin-controlled mechanism.



T. STOGKER.

00m CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25,1912.

Patented June 9, 1914 2 SHEETB-SHEET 1 M W W Z O t 1 1 0 U 1. v

S H w T. STOOKER.

00m CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1912.

Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHBETB-SHEET Z.

0 M J F Jnucntoz M an WW3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE STOCKEJR, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented June a, 1914.

Original application filed December 18 1911, Serial No. 666,182. Divided and this application filed September 25, 1918. Serial No. 722,195.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnnononn STOCKER, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Govington, county of Kenton, and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin- Controlled Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, and is a division of application Serial No. 666,182, filed Decemher-16, 1911.

This invention is an improvement in comcontrol mechanisms for vending machines and also an improvement in vending machines.

An object of this invention is to produce a new and improved coin-control apparatus which is simpler in construction and more effective in operation than apparatus now in use or known to me.

A further object is to produce a new and improved vending apparatus, which is simpler in construction, cheaper to build, and more effective in operation than similar apparatus now in use or known to me.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevation ofa vending machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 1s a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view taken on the. line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and shown in connection with a sectional elevation of a coin-controlled apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 1, portions being broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the coin-con trol mechanism shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a modified form of coin-control mechanism which also forms an embodiment of m invention. Fig. 7 is a fragmental sectional view alon the line 7'7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a modi ed form of magazine which may be employed with my invention.

The apparatus illustrated includes a magazine 11, which is preferably open at its lower end and is provided with a hinged cover 12st its upper end. The apparatus also includes means for controlling the delivery of articles from the magazine and a coin-controlled apparatus-for controlling the operation of the means.

The means illustrated, for controlling the delivery of articles from the magazine, consists of a lever 13, which is pivotally mounted on the external wall of the magazine and is provided at its upper end with a finger 14, adapted to project through an aperture formed in the wall of the magazine and to support the articles located in the magazine, when the lever is moved to an article delivering position. The lever is also rovided with a finger 15, which is locate on the opposite side of the fulcrum point from the finger 14 and, which is adapted to pro )B'Ct through an aperture in the casing of the magazlne and to support the lowest article in the magazine when the lever is moved to its norma position. The lever may be held in the normal position by any suitable means, such for example '15 a spring 10, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Any suitable means may be employed for moving the lever about its fulcrum point, and for thereby delivering articles from the magazine. As illustrated in Fig. 3, I have provided a rotatable shaft 16, having teeth or projections 16 mounted thereon, which are adapted to engage the lower end of the lever 13 and to shift it from the normal to the delivering position when the shaft is turned in a clockwise direction. The shaft 16 is actuated and controlled by means of a coin-controlled mechanism, which as illustrated in Fig. 4. includes a shaft 17 which projects through the casing of the apparatus and is provided with an operating crank 18, and a locking mechanism for preventing the shaft from being turned except upon the introduction of a coin into the machine.

The locking mechanism consists of a ratchet wheel 19, which prevents motion in one direction of the shaft 17 and an arm 20 which prevents motion of the shaft in the opposite direction. The ratchet 19 is mounted on the shaft 17 and is engaged by a pawl which is pivotally mounted on a convenient portion of the stationary casing 21, of the coin-contro1led mechanism, and is continually held in engagement with the ratchet by means of a suitable spring. The arm 20 is pivotally mounted on asuitable extension 22, formed on the casing 21., and its lower end normally projects into the path of travel of a stop 23, mounted. on the shaft 17, and thereby prevents the shaft 17 from being turned in 'a clock-wise direction. The other end of the arm 20 is provided with a groove 24, which cooperates with a similar groove 25, formed in the adjacent end of a pivotally mounted tripper bar 26. Theslotted ends swing freeof the adjacent end of-the armper lever 28 and a lug 29, form means for moving the lower end of the arm 20 out of the path of travel of the stop 23 and for thereby unlocking the shaft 17 and permit-- ting it to be turned in a clock-wise direction.

The apparatus is, however, so arranged that this cannot be' accomplished unless a coin is held in the position indicated by means of the cooperating grooves 24 and 25.

The ratchet wheel 19 is provided with rel-. atively long teeth or ratchets and the stop 23 is so located on the shaft 17, relatively to' the position of the ratchet teeth, that the shaft may be turned through a limited angle while it remains locked against motion, which would not be suflicient to operate the shaft 16 and to thereby de iver articles from the magazine 11. The lug 9 is so located on the shaft 17 that it will engage andfdepress the tripper bar 28 while the shaft is turned through the limited angle and will thereby actuate'the tripper bar 26. The end of the tripper bar 26 is so constructed that it will 20 and will therefore be incapable of actuating that arm unless a coin is located between the arm and the bar in the cooperating grooves 24 and 25. When a coin is so located the tripper bar 26 is capable of shifting the position of the arm 20, through the agency of the coin, and of thereby moving its lower endout of the path of travel of the stop 23. This is accomplished as follows: The first motion of the-shaft 17 causes the lug 29 to actuate the tripperbar 28, which in turn tilts the bar-26. This tilting motion of the bar is imparted to the arm 26, and, through the agency of the coin, engaged by its groove 25, swings the arm 20 about its pivotal point to such a position that its lower end is moved outwardly a sufficient amount to clear the stop 23 as it is turned by the motion of the shaft 17. The lug 29 1s so proportioned that the stop 23, will pass beyond the end of the arm 20 as the shaft 17 is turned in a clock-wise direction and will thereby permit the shaft to be turned through one entire revolution. The cooperation between the tripper lever and the lug 29 is such that the tripper bar 26 is moved by the lever to such a position, that the coin is dropped from beneath the tripper bar and the arm 20 is thereby freed, so that it returns to its normal position: that is, to the position in which its lower end is located in the path of travel of the stop 23. This prevents the shaft from being turned more than one'revolution without the introduction of another coin. I The arm 20,

the tripper bar and the tripper lever may be 'held in the normal position, illustra'tedin Fig. 5, by means of. springs such as those shown. The ooves 24 and 25 are formed so that while they will receive and hold a coin of one kind, such as a nickel, they will not hold a smaller coin but will permit it to drop directly between the arm and the bar into the cash drawer which is located below the mechanism. This is accomplished i of the determined denomination.

In the apparatus illustrated I have provided agear whee-I31 on the shaft 17 which turns the shaft 16 through the agency of an idler gear 32 and a gear 33 mounted on the shaft 16. The ratio of the gears 31 and 33 is such that the shaft 16 is turned a quarter turn for each revolution of the shaft 17.

This causes one of the projections 16' to actuate the lever 13, so that it delivers one article from the magazine 11 each time the handle 18, and consequently the shaft 17 is turned through one complete revolution.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawingsv I have illustrated a modification of my invention. It consists of a coin-controlled mechanism embodying the principle of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, but which is so constructed that it'is adapted to be era-- ployed with, and to he operated by a .push rod 34, instead of a rotatable handle. The rod 34 projects through the casing and is so mounted that it is capable of being moved longitudinally for the purpose of turning a shaft N, which controls the delivery of articles from the magazine .11. The rod is held in the forward position by means of a spring 35, which surrounds the rod, and is located between a suitable abut-- 37 is provided on the rod, and av gear-'31 is mounted on the shaft 1'7v in mesh with the rack for the purpose of transmitting the motion of the rod to the shaft. The rod is prevented from being moved an amount sufficient to deliver an article from the magazine 11 by means- 0f a. coin-control locking device which locks the rod against motion, except when a coin is delivered to the mechanism. The locking mechanism consists of a pivotally mounted arm 38, a pivotally mounted tripper bar 39, a pivotally mounted trip lever 41 and a stop42, which is ac tuated by the arm 38 through the agency of the trip lever 11, the bar 39, a coin located between'the bar and the arm, and the arm. The stop is so located that it permits a small amount of motion of the rod, when occupying its normal position, but prevents the rod from being moved inwardly far enough to actuate the vending apparatus. 38 corresponds to the arm 20, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, and is provided with a coin-receiving groove 24, which is located in the end of the arm adjacent to the bar 39.

The bar 39 corresponds to the bar 26 of the apparatus illustrated. in Fig. 5 and is provided with a coin-receiving groove 25, which cooperates with the groove 24", in reeeiving a coin from a chute 27. The tripper lever 41 corresponds to the trip lever 28 and the lug 36 on the rod 34 corresponds to the lug 29 on the shaft 17 of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, and actuates the lever 41 for the purpose of shifting the bar 39,.the arm 38,-and of thereby moving the stop 42 out of the path of travel of the lever, and permitting the rod 34 to continue in its forward motion. As illustrated, the stop 42 consists of an arm mounted on a rod 43 which is journaled in suitable lugs provided on the casing 21 and is provided with a finger 44 which is engaged by a bell crank 45. The bell crank is pivotally mounted on a suitable shaft mounted on the casing 21 and is operatively connected to the arm-38 by means of a link 46. When the arm 38 is actuated, through the agency of the bar 39 and a coin located in the grooves 24 and-25', it shifts the position of the bell crank 45, so

that it moves the finger 44 and thereby swings the stop 42 out of the path of travel of the lever 41. This permits the rod to be pushed inwardly the full amount of its travel, or an amount sufficient to actuate the lever 13 and deliver an article from the magazine.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the shaft 17 provided with a finger or extension 48, which engages the lower end of the'lever 13 and moves 'it to the delivering position when the rod 34 is pushed inwardly. It is not necessary to provide more than one of the fingers 48, since the rod 17 is turned in one direction, as the rod 34 is pushed inwardly, and then is turned in the other direction as the rod moves outwardly in response to the pressure of the spring 35.

The operation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6 is as follows: When the rod 34 is pushed inwardly without a coin having been delivered through the chute 27.

to the coin-receiving grooves 24 and 25, the lug 36 engages the upper end of the lever 41 and pushes the lever into engagement with the stop 42: This checks the motion of the rod and prevents it from being moved far enough to actuate the vending mechanism. During this motion of the rod, and consequently of the lever 41, the trip er bar 39 is turned about its pivot pin but 18 incapable of moving the arm 38, since it is so formed that it does not engage the The arm.

arm in any of its positions. When a coin is delivered through the chute to the cooperating grooves 24 and 25 and therod is pushed inwardly, the motion transmitted to the bar 39 by the lever 41 is transmitted by the coin, held by the grooves 24 and 25', to the arm 38. 'This actuates the bell crank and swings the stop42 out of the path of travel of the lever and thereby permits the rod 34 to be moved the full amount of its stroke. The continued motion of the rod continues to tilt the bar 39 and finally moves it and the arm 38 to such positions, with relation to each other, that the coin held in the rooves between them is dropped downwardly into the cash drawer, which is located below the mechanism. As soon as the coin is discharged the arm 38 is freed from the bar 39 and moves, in response to the pressure of a spring 49, to its normal posi-' tion. The sto 42 1s also moved to its normal position y means of a sprin 47, as soon as the rod 34 is released, and t e lever 41 is moved to its normal. position by a controlling spring or in any other suitable manner. When the coineontrolled mechanism is actuated, the lever 13 is tilted from the position, shown in Fig. 3, to a position such that the finger 15 is withdrawn from the path of travel of vendible articles located within the magazine 11, and the finger 14 is projected into the magazine and into the. path of travel of articles located. in the magazine. The fingers 14 and 15 are, however, so proportioned with relation to each other and with relation to the amount of motion imparted to the lever 13, that the finger 14 reaches a position within the path of travel of the vendible articles prior to the time that thefinger 15 releases the vendible articles, with which it contacts.

This construction causes the finger 14 to segregate the lowest vendible article in the magazine, from the remaining articles, prior to the time that the finger 15 releases the lowest article, and also causes the finger 14 to support the remaining articles in the magazine during the delivery of one article. As the shaft 16 of Fig. 3 is turned in a clock-wise direction by the coin-controlled mechanism, it first moves the lever 13 to the delivering position, through the agency of one of the extensions or fingers 16' andthen, as it continues to move, the finger moves out of engagement with the lever 13 and permits the lever -to snap back to the normal position, under the influence of the all of the spring 10. This allows the artie cs remaining in the magazine to drop down so that the lowest article is supported by the fin ger 15.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings I have shown a spiral magazine 11 which may be employed with up aratus embodying my invention and'whic also forms a part of my invention.

&

B employing the spiral magazine; I can p ace more articles in onevending magazme, since the magazine is longer than could be employed in a device of the same height, if the magazine. were straight.

In -F1gs..4=, 5 and 6 I have also illustrated bar 26 is tilted it steps the ratchet wheel up one step and finally moves a pin. 53' into op erative engagement with a release rod The release rod controlsthe movement. of a slotted plate 55, which is capable of closing the entrance to the chute 27 and is held in the upper or'open position by means of the rod 54, whichv engages an aperture. formed in'the plate. When the rod is engaged by the pin 53 it is moved longitudinally in opposition to the pull of a coiled spring 56 and thereby releases the plate 55. The plate then moves downwardly in response to the all of a spring 57 and closes the entrance to the chute. I If desired, the plate 55 may be so arranged that. it. will expose the word Empty through an aperture 58 provided in the casing 21 when it is moved: to the chute closing position. In Fig. 6 I have shown the link 52, of the actuating pawl of the ratchet 50, pivotally secured! to thelever.

41. With this arrangement. the" ratchet is stepped up one step each time the rod 34 is i moved inwardly, to actuate the mechanism.

In accordance with the United States patent statutes I have illustrated and. described the preferred embodimentsof my invention,

but I desire-it to-beunderstoodthat various changes, modification and substitutions may be made-inthe "details of construction: without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. as set forth. in the appended claims.

What I claim. is: Y

1. A coin-controlled device for vending machines comprising an. actuating. mecha nism for the vending machine, a: rotatable means for actuating'said mechanism, a. movable stop actuated by said means, a movable lug actuated by said means, a pivotally mounted arm having a. coin-receiving slot formed in one end thereof. and normally standing in thepath of travel of said stop, a pivotally mounted. tripper bar. having a coin-receiving slot inone end thereof, adapted tocoiiperate with the slot in said. arm in receiving acoin, and means, actuated by said lug for tilting saidbar and for moving said arm out of the path of travel of said stop through the agency of. the coin engaged. by

:the slotsin said arm and said bar;

2. A coin-controlled device for vending machines comprising an actuating mechanism for the vending machine, a means for actuating said mechanism, a lug carried by said means, a: pivotally mounted tripper bar having a coin receiving slot formed in one end. thereof, a pivotall'ymounted arm having a coin receiving slot formed in one end thereof, adapted to cofiperate with the: slot in the tripper bar in receiving a coin actuated by said; lug. for tilting said for moving said arm throlgh'the agency of. the coin engaged by" the a lever bar and ots in said arm and said bar, and a stop controlled by said arm and adapted to be moved. to permit said lever to be moved when said arm is moved.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of Septem.

ber,1912.

' THEODORE STOCKER.

Witnesses? E. W. MOCALLISTER, W. THORNTON Bocnu'r. 

